Save Article

A Dramatic Entrance Guaranteed

Folded like origami or standing tradition on its head, the staircase climbs the architectural ladder

By

Erin Mendell

Oct. 8, 2014 10:48 a.m. ET

Want to make a dramatic entrance? The key is often the balustrade—the railing and posts that frame a staircase. Now, designers are moving beyond the sweeping, traditional centerpieces associated with classic grand hallways. Here, a sampling of creative balustrades in materials ranging from leather to steel.

Traditional Looks With a Twist

Architect Jan Gleysteen of Jan Gleysteen Architects looked to the postmodern movement to create the “queen stair” in the formal entryway of a home outside Boston. The poplar balusters...